Washington, DC (Embassy of St. Kitts and Nevis) – The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) convened a special meeting on Wednesday, December 11, in the Simon Bolívar Room at the OAS Headquarters in Washington, DC, to commemorate Human Rights Day.
Her Excellency Jacinth Henry-Martin, Ambassador of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the United States of America and Permanent Representative to the OAS, addressed the special session, reaffirming Saint Kitts and Nevis’ strong commitment to the defence and advancement of human rights for all.
The meeting recognised the invaluable contributions of Justices Eduardo Ferrer Mac-Gregor Poisot and Humberto Antonio Sierra Porto, who will soon conclude their judgeships on the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on December 10, 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) has served as a cornerstone for global human rights law. Widely celebrated for inspiring the development of over seventy human rights treaties, the UDHR remains a vital framework for promoting and protecting fundamental freedoms across the globe.
In her remarks, Ambassador Henry-Martin acknowledged the ongoing, troubling violations of human rights in many parts of the world, stating, “This delegation acknowledges the ongoing and deeply troubling violations of these fundamental rights in various parts of the world. We are mindful of the plight of individuals and communities who are wantonly deprived of their liberty and subjected to conditions that erode their constitutional, fundamental, and inalienable rights.”
She continued, highlighting the plight of individuals and communities deprived of their freedom and subjected to conditions that infringe upon their constitutional and inalienable rights.
Her Excellency emphasised that “Saint Kitts and Nevis abhors all such injustices, an affront to the global pursuit of peace, security, and sustainable development.”
The Ambassador also underscored the growing impact of climate change on human rights, noting, “In small states such as Saint Kitts and Nevis, where rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and environmental degradation threaten livelihoods, housing, and access to essential resources. For many, these climate-induced disruptions undermine the right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being.”
She further stressed that climate insecurity, including threats to food security, exacerbates this vulnerability. “When people lack access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food, their rights to health, life, and dignity are fundamentally compromised, underscoring the urgent need for integrated approaches to climate resilience and human rights protection,” Ambassador Henry-Martin concluded.
In closing, she extended heartfelt appreciation to the President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), the judges, survivors, and presenters for their valuable contributions. She also commended the Secretariat for Access to Rights and Equity, as well as the dedicated staff of the IACHR, for their unwavering commitment to advancing and preserving human rights across the Americas.